Saturday, June 10, 2017

Martial law arrest order: 310 terrorists, supporters

Using its martial law powers, the Department of National Defense has issued arrest orders against 310 alleged members, supporters, spies and couriers of four terrorist organizations in Mindanao. AP/Bullit Marquez, File

Rody to follow SC on martial law

MANILA, Philippines - Using its martial law powers, the Department of National Defense (DND) has issued arrest orders against 310 alleged members, supporters, spies and couriers of four terrorist organizations in Mindanao.

All those in the list are accused of involvement in killings, kidnappings and bombings to set up an Islamic state in Marawi City, which altogether constitute the crime of rebellion under Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code.

Those to be arrested are tagged as members of the Maute group, Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Maguid group.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the designated administrator of martial law as proclaimed by President Duterte on May 23, signed Arrest Orders 1 and 2.

Those in the list are accused of “sowing terror to the populace” with the common design or goal of allegedly committing rebellion “for the purpose of removing Mindanao from the territory of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines or its laws by establishing an independent Islamic State and/or deprive the Chief Executive of his powers and prerogatives as President of the Republic.”

Lorenzana tasked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to implement his directives.

He said those in the lists are to be arrested, taken into custody, investigated and charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) within three days from their actual arrest.

The security agencies were also ordered to “ensure that all the rights of the persons arrested/detained/taken into custody… are protected by Philippine law, including human rights and the rights of persons under custodial investigation under Republic Act No. 7438.”

The arrest orders were issued after the proclamation of martial law placing the entire Mindanao region under military rule.

President Duterte imposed martial law across the entire region within hours after the fighting broke out in a bid to quickly crush the Islamic State-inspired Maute group.

Duterte yesterday said he has no plans of perpetuating himself in power by placing Mindanao under military law.

“You know these fools, they were trying to think that we in government are trying to perpetuate ourself in power,” he said.

“I’m the second president to declare martial law. I am not proud of it. I am not happy because it indicates something, that there is trouble.”

The President lamented critics have been asking him how long martial law would prevail and what else remains to be done.

“You keep on asking when this will end. This is my answer to the doubting Thomases: there is no ambition to perpetuate (myself) in power,” he said.

Duterte explained that he declared martial law because the AFP and the police told him that the crisis in Marawi City had reached its critical moment.

Duterte said he was forced to cut short his visit to Moscow because of the deteriorating security situation back home.

Several sectors, including opposition lawmakers, filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the validity of the declaration of martial law.

Four women from war-torn Marawi City joined the call by filing a separate petition yesterday asking the high court to order the lifting of martial law in Mindanao, saying it was unconstitutional.

Duterte gave assurance he would abide by the decision of the SC should it grant the petitions questioning his proclamation of martial law.

“Of course. We are bound by rules. It’s the Supreme Court. Maybe you may differ individually… because you cannot agree on almost anything all the time,” Duterte said.

Duterte also warned Moros to step aside as troops carry out the campaign against Maute terrorists or be killed.

“My warning to my fellow Moros: do not, do not attempt to play here. If you do not want to be harmed, step aside,” the President said.

The hot list

Authorities are now tracking down the people listed in the arrest orders issued by the defense department.

Included in the arrest list are couples Cayamora Maute and Ominta “Farhana” Romato, the patriarch and matriarch of the Maute clan in Mindanao.

Cayamora was arrested at a checkpoint in Davao City last Tuesday along with three other members of the Maute clan, his third wife Kongan Alfonso Balawag, his daughter Norjannah Balawag and son-in-law Benzarali Tingao.

The arrest order also included former Marawi City mayor Fajad Salic, who was arrested Wednesday in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental. Salic, who is facing rebellion charges, is reportedly a financier and supporter of the Maute group in its early years.

On the other hand, 18 people all surnamed Maute were cleared by the NBI of any links with the Maute group fighting government troops in Marawi.

NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin pointed out the 18 Mautes “voluntarily presented themselves to be cleared of any suspicion of derogatory record.”

Secretary Aguirre described them earlier as “surrenderees,” saying the reason for their surrender is to clear their names.

Some of the 18 Mautes came from Lanao del Sur, where Marawi City is located, while some of them had been residing in Metro Manila for years.

Officials said the 18 Mautes were not among the 125 people in the list under Arrest Order No. 2.

Another Maute, a man in his 40s, received his NBI clearance to travel to Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage.

The man, who refused to be named for fear of his safety, insisted he had no blood relations with the Maute brothers leading the extremist group laying siege in Marawi.